Pipe wrench



Dec.' 25, 1928. 1,696,722

A. J. MIEHLE PIPE WRENCH Filed sept. e, 19.27

Patented Dec. 25, 1928.'

PATENT OFFICE..

ARTHUR J'. MIEHLE, OF CHICAGO ILLINOIS.

PIPE WRENCH.

Application led September 6, 1927. Serial No. 217,560;

My invention V relates to a pipe wrench; and an object of theinvention is to provide such a wrench which can be readily adjusted to its closed operative position and to its open inoperative position, and which can. be entirely opened instantly by the use of only one hand. Another object is to provide such a wrench which will beself-locking when the jaws are moved to the closed operative position, and wherein suoli lock will be automatically released by moving the jaws to their open inoperative position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view showing the preferred form of my wrench, in an intermediate open position; f

Fig. 2 isa slightly enlarged view thereof, in an open or inoperative position, with the side plate of the Vhousing removed;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but showing the parts in their closed or operative position; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

The form of construction of my improved wrench whichl prefer, and which is illustrated in the drawing, comprises a jaw memberl() including a handle portion 11 at one end and a serrated head or jaw 12 at the opposite end; and further comprises a jaw member 13 including a short operating finger or lug 14 at one end anda serrated bent-over portion or jaw 15 at the opposite end, said member 13 being slidable relative to its companion member 10, and aw 15 being swingable relative to its companion jaw 12, to move into operative and into inoperative position.

The means for connecting the jaw members 10 and 13 comprises a frame or housing which includes similar side plates 16 connected together in spaced relation by transverse posts 17, 17 and 17, the jaw member 13 being pivotally or swingably supported on the upper post 17, and the jaw member 10 having slidable relation with the housing and the other jaw member by reasonof its location between lower posts 17 andintermediate posts 17 Means is provided for holding and locking v the wrenchin closed or operative position, and this means preferably comprises a holding lever or' member 20 fulcrumed on one of the posts 17 and provided with indentations` or teeth 21 which engage in similar indenta-I tions or teeth formed at the side of jaw member 10. Said means further comprises locking members or levers 23, fulcrumed on one of the posts 17, andcarrying a locking pin or cross pin 24 which is arranged and po-f sitioned to move in a notch v25 provided on lever 20, to permit movement to release position of the latter', as indicated inFig. 2 off the drawing; and said pin engages and bears on the outer end 20 of said lever 20, beyond notch 25, to retain or lock said lever in its operative posi-tion, as indicatedr in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This locking means becomes operative when jaw memberl 131 is swung to its operative or closed position.

I also provide means for positively and automatically releasing said locking means whenj aw member 13 is swung back to its release or inoperative position, and this means comprises releasing members 2 7, preferably in the form of plates fastened on jaw memberv 13, as with a pin 23, and having each'a linger 29 arranged to engage a locking lever 23l and move locking pin 24 back from kend 20 ofV lever 2() into the notch 25, as lug 14` is depressed and jaw 15 is moved upward from pipe 30.. This releasing means further'includes a pair of actuating or lifting members 31, pivoted with a pin 32 on holding lever 20, and having each a hook or bent end 33 for engaging in a notch 34 in releasing'member 27, so as to actuate lever 20 into or out of engagement vwith jaw member 10. f

I furthermore provide spring means 35 tending to urge the parts into 'their operative or closed position and to retain them therein, and this means preferably includes a bowed leaf spring which is mounted with its ends in cuts or slots providedv in members 23 and 31, a spring being preferably placed ateach side of member 10, for each setof mem,- bers 23and 31. This spring means or pair of springs is somounted in said slots in members 23 and 31, and'V is so constructed, that it is stressed when the jaw members are swung apart,.and will thus urge them toward their closed position orj to swing jaw 15 down .into alinement with jaw member 10.

To" operate my improved wrench When it is desired to open and adjust the wrench for a pipe or article, the lug 14 can be depressed with the thumb of the hand which holds the handle 11, swinging jaw member 13 suilicientlyto have the releasing fingers 29 thereon move locking levers 23 over so that locking pin 24 slides trom end 20 of lever 20 into notch 25, and in the mean time hooks 33 of levers 31 have been engaged and moved upward by the notched parts 311 of plates 27 thereby lifting said levers 31 and consequently the pivotally attached holding operative posit-ions, assisted by the action ol springs 35. To release the wrench, thelug 14 is again depressed by the thumb sufliciently to separate teeth 21 and 22, so that member 13 with the housing may be slid along member 10. Said teeth are tapered to facilitate the separating and sliding movement.

The construction Jfurthermore is so arranged that when it is desired to quickly open the wrench to the full extent, it is merely necessary to grasp the handle 11 with one hand and thrust or swing the wrench forward or downward, said wrench being normally held closed by spring 35, as seenY in Fig. 3; whereupon, as the handle 11 is brought suddenly to rest by the stopping hand, the aw 15 continues and swings upward and outward from jaw 12, and moves the member 13 substantially parallel with member 10 and sutilciently to separate teeth 21 and 22, as seen in Fig. 1, and thereupon sliding member 13 with the housing and contained elements along jaw member 10 to the jaw 12 at its end, thus with one thrust of one hand fully opening the wrench, all ready for applying it to a large size pipe or article. Y

The pipe wrench of this application is an improvement over the Jform of construction disclosed in the patent issued to 1N. S. Miehle, March 3, 1910, #951,570, wherein the hooked-lever 11 was used to move arm 15 of bell-crank 14 for actuating the locking means, which was not always effective; nor was that wrench adapted to be fully opened by merely thrusting or swinging it, by the use of only one hand, like this wrench.

l/Vhat l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pipe wrench comprising a member including a jaw and a handle, a cooperating jaw member mounted to swing and to move longitudinally with respect to the first said member7 means to normally retain said members in operative position, and means tol positively release said retaining means, all parts being arranged to enable positive releasing and complet-e opening of said jaw members by grasping said handle and thrusting andV suddenly stopping said wrench.

2. l pipe wrench comprising a jaw member including a handle, a aw member which is swingable and movable longitudinally with respect to the irst said jaw member, means for holding said members in their operative position, means tor locking said holding means, and means on said swingable member for releasing the locking means from the holding means by the swinging oi' said member, thereby enabling the sliding ot said swingable jaw member along theother jaw member to the full open position automatically by a sudden jerking and stopping movement of the wrench.

3. A pipe wrench comprising a jaw member having a handle, a housing slidable on said member, a jaw member pivotally mounted in said housing and having a short lug extending beyond the housing, means for holding said jaw members in position, means for locking said holding means, and a finger on said pivoted jaw member for engaging and releasing said locking means to open the jaw members by depressing said lug.

t. A pipe wrench comprising a jaw member, a housing slidable thereon, a jaw memberv having a thumb lug at one end and being pivotally mount-ed in said housing adjacent said lug, means in said housing for holding said housing and pivoted member against sliding movement on the other member, means `for locking said holding means, means including a ringer on said pivoted member for releasing said locking means and thereupon releasing said holding means by depressing said lug, and spring means for normally urging said parts into operative locking position.

5.151 pipe wrench comprising a main jaw member, a housing slidable thereon, a jaw member swingably mounted in said housing, means for holding said housing stationary on said main member, means for locking said holding means, means for lifting said holding means to release said main member, and means liXed on said swingable member, including a finger to positively push sai-d locking means to release position also a notched portion to litt said lifting means and thereby release said holding means trom said main member.

6. A pipe wrench comprising a jaw member with a handle, a housing slidable thereon, a. aw member pivot-ally mounted in the housing,means for holding said housing stationary, a lever with means for locking said holding means, a lever for lifting and releasing said holdingmeans, means on said pivoted jaw member with a finger for releasing said locking means and with a notched portion lor liiting said lifting lever to release said hold- `ing means, and a bowed spring which has its ends seated in slots in said locking lever and in said lifting lever for movin(r the parts of the wrench to the operative locliiing position.

7. A pipe Wrench comprising a main jaw member having a handle and side teeth, a housing slidable along said member, a jaw member having a lug at its end and being pivoted in said housing adjacent said lug, holding means pivo-ted in the housing and having teeth for engaging the teeth on the main member, also having a notch near its free end, locking levers with a cross-pin therebetween to bear on said free end and hold said means locked,` a pair of hooked levers o-n the holding means for lifting it to separate the teeth, releasing members fixed on the pivoted jaw members and having integral lingers fou; pressing the locking levers to move their cross-pin from said free end to said notch, said releasing members being notched for actuating the hooks and lifting levers, and bowed springs With their ends seated deep in slots in said lifting levers and locking levers to move the various parts of the Wrench to the operative locking'position, said Wrench being fully openable by a jerking and sudden stopping movement thereof with one hand.

In testimony whereof I have signed my namey to this specification.

ARTHUR J. MIEHLE. 

